Last updated: 20 November 2023
Next review: 20 November 2024
In Waltham Forest we have built a culture of continuous learning and development. This work is led by the Learning and Improving Practice Forum that ensures learning from reviews and audits is shared across the multi-agency partnership.
The aim of the forum is to provide a think family approach to learning and improving practice across the four strategic boards:
- Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB)
- Waltham Forest Safeguarding Children Board (WFSCB),
- SafetyNet - Waltham Forest's Comunity Safety Partnership and
- Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB).
We have developed a variety of resources to support how we improve practice, and these can be found below. Training offer centres around areas of practice that are of interest to the Boards and all training sessions.
Training
We do things differently in Waltham Forest. All four boards work closely to make the best use of resources, which makes the greatest impact on improving outcomes for our residents. Therefore, our training offer centres around areas of practice that are of interest to all the Boards.
All training and learning events are free and can be found on Eventbrite. Use the Eventbrite website to view and attend any events. We update this regularly so do keep checking in.
As a partnership, we have learnt lots of lessons from audits and reviews and now we want to focus on sharing that learning.
Professional curiosity resource
Professional curiosity is a combination of looking, listening, asking direct questions, checking out and reflecting on information received. This resource pack aims to raise awareness about the topics we want to embed into practice
- Professional curiosity resources pack (PDF)
- Professional curiosity (bitesize video)
A guide to thresholds and practice
The London Threshold Document: Continuum of Help and Support provides a framework for professionals who are working with children, young people and families.
Our Guide to Thresholds and practice for working with children and families in Waltham Forest aims to help practitioners understand and apply our approach to working with children, families and communities locally. It sets out our vision and values, and the role and responsibilities of all agencies to work together so that every child in the borough has the best possible outcomes. You can watch this video about the threshold guide using this link Bitesize video - Thresholds and practice for working with children and families in Waltham Forest
Adults’ Threshold Guidance (PDF) and and Threshold guidance adults bitesize video set out the role and responsibilities of all agencies working together to ensure vulnerable adults are safeguarded in Waltham Forest.
Keeping children and young people safe outside their home
Adolescent Safeguarding in London is a practice handbook for everyone who works to build safety with young Londoners facing different types of harm in their lives, and Safeguarding Adolescents bitesize video provides further information on this topic.
Safeguarding in the community, voluntary and faith sector
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried that a child or adult with care and support needs is at risk of harm, it is your duty to raise a safeguarding concern. This document gives an overview of resources and telephone numbers for reporting concerns.
- Safeguarding in the community, voluntary and faith sector (PDF)
- Safeguarding Awareness for Volunteers (bitesize video)
Self-Neglect Multi-Agency Guidance
Self-Neglect Multi-Agency Guidance (PDF) and self-neglect bitesize video are for anyone who supports an individual who self-neglects or is at risk of self-neglect. The guidance provides information on various aspects of self-neglect including, indicators advice on how to start a difficult conversation and fluctuating capacity.
People at the Heart of our place
In Waltham Forest, we recognise that in order to support families to make changes that are helpful and long-lasting, we need to work with all the members of the family. If we understand and recognise that the needs and desired outcomes of each person in the family affect each other, we are more likely to support and enable sustainable change.
Mental Capacity Guidance
The Multi-agency mental capacity guidance (PDF) provides information on various aspects of assessing mental capacity; including a flowchart to signpost professionals to appropriate routes of support; advice on how to have a difficult conversation and how to support fluctuating capacity when a resident is abusing substances. There is also a detailed case study section to guide professionals in supporting residents where their mental capacity is being impacted in different ways.
- 7 Minute Briefing for Mental Capacity (PDF)
- View the mental capacity training on Waltham Forest’s YouTube channel
- Short film on Liberty Protection Safeguards
- Mental Capacity - What professionals need to know (training)
- Spotlight on Mental Capacity (video)
- Mental Capacity Act Overview and the National Mental Capacity Forum (video)
- Mental Capacity Act: Using The Key Principles In Care Planning (video)
Find out more about Mental Capacity in Waltham Forest.
Pressure care
A pressure ulcer, often known as a pressure sore or bed sore, is damage to the skin and deeper layer of tissue under the skin. This happens when pressure is applied to the same area of skin for a period of time and cuts off blood supply. It is estimated that nearly half a million people in the UK will develop at least one pressure ulcer in any given year.
Safer sleeping
Read latest Spotlights (2021/23)
- Spotlight on contextual safeguarding – May 2021
- Spotlight on diabetes – June 2021
- Spotlight on hidden harm – September 2021
- Spotlight on modern slavery – October 2021
- Spotlight on modern slavery – October 2021
- Spotlight on cuckooing – November 2021
- Spotlight on 16 Days of Activism – November 2021
- Spotlight on mental capacity – December 2021
- Spotlight on carers – January 2022
- Spotlight on female genital mutilation – February 2022
- Spotlight on child exploitation – March 2022
- Spotlight on child exploitation: drug debt – March 2022
- Spotlight on self-neglect – April 2022
- Spotlight on pressure care – May 2022
- Spotlight on mental health – May 2022
- Spotlight on Making Every Contact Count (MECC) - June 2022
- Spotlight on Training - August 2022
- Spotlight on Resources for newly-arrived refugees - September 2022
- Spotlight on World Mental Health Day - October 2022
- Spotlight on Safeguarding - November 2022
- Spotlight on 16 Days of Activism - November 2022
- Spotlight on Alcohol Awareness - December 2022
- Spotlight on Learning and Improving Practice - January 2023
- Spotlight on Fire Safety Awareness – February 2023
- Spotlight on Child Exploitation – March 2023
- Spotlight on Autism – April 2023
- Spotlight on Asthma Awareness – May 2023
- Spotlight on Safeguarding Older People – June 2023
Read previous Spotlight bulletins:
- Spotlight on alcohol (PDF)
- Spotlight on violence against women and girls (PDF)
- Spotlight on improving practice (PDF)
- Spotlight on escalation (PDF)
- Spotlight on challenging the culture of knife crime (PDF)
Read 7 Minute Briefings
- 7 minute briefing on SCR child D (PDF)
- 7 minute briefing on Recovering from drugs and alcohol (PDF)
- 7 Minute briefing on Team Around the Person (PDF)
- 7 minute briefing on Making Every Contact Count (PDF)
- 7 Minute briefing on learning from a rapid review for Child E (PDF)
- 7 Minute briefing on CSPR for Khalsa (PDF)
- 7 Minute briefing on SCR for Child C (PDF)
- 7 Minute briefing on Safeguarding children from extra familial risks: Exploitation Risk Panel (PDF)
- 7 minute briefing on 5:59 film (PDF)
- 7 minute briefing on SAR Lee (PDF)
- 7 min briefing_CSPR Kubus (PDF)
Bitesize Video Guides
Learn about the four strategic boards in Waltham Forest
- Health and Wellbeing Board (HWBB),
- SafetyNet - Waltham Forest's Community Safety Partnership,
- Waltham Forest Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) and
- Waltham Forest Safeguarding Children Board (WFSCB).
We are proud of how differently we do things in Waltham Forest, with the boards working closely to achieve the best outcomes for our residents. We want to ensure as practitioners you feel connected to this work.
You can watch our Bitesize films or if you prefer, read the scripts.